Former Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin, Who Broke Barriers as the World’s Youngest Leader, Quits Politics

Michael Lee Simpson
·2 min read
3
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

Marin, 37, has reportedly accepted a position at a London-based nonprofit led by former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair

<p>Roni Rekomaa/Bloomberg via Getty</p> Sanna Marin, Finland

Former Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin, who made history as the world’s youngest prime minister when she assumed the top office in 2019, announced her departure from politics on Thursday, according to multiple reports.

“Time to move on,” Marin, 37, was quoted as saying by Finnish public broadcaster YLE, according to the Associated Press. “I am eager to step into a new role. I also believe that it can benefit the whole of Finland.”

Her next position will reportedly be as a strategic counselor for the London-based Tony Blair Institute for Global Change.

Marin, a Social Democrat, led a five-party coalition government until April, when Finland’s main conservative party took control of Parliament. She resigned as leader of the Social Democratic Party last week before announcing that she would be giving up the Parliament seat that she's held since 2015.

Related: 34-Year-Old Sanna Marin of Finland Becomes the World's Youngest Prime Minister

<p>Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP via Getty</p> Social Democratic Party SDP chair and Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin arrives to give her speech to supporters at the SDP election party event, following the Finnish parliamentary elections, on April 2, 2023, in Helsinki.

Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP via Getty

Social Democratic Party SDP chair and Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin arrives to give her speech to supporters at the SDP election party event, following the Finnish parliamentary elections, on April 2, 2023, in Helsinki.

As prime minister, Marin received praise for her cabinet’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and her advocacy for Ukraine in light of Russian aggression. Under her leadership, Finland became NATO's 31st member nation.

Prior to becoming the world's youngest prime minister at age 34 — and the nation's third female leader — Marin served as the Finnish minister of transport and communications.

Related: Finland's Prime Minister Admits to Dancing at a Party But Says She Has 'Nothing to Hide' amid Backlash

<p>Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty </p> Sanna Marin Prime minister of Finland as seen arriving at the European Council, walking next to the European flags, flag of Europe and talking to the media while answering questions to the press and journalists.

Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty

Sanna Marin Prime minister of Finland as seen arriving at the European Council, walking next to the European flags, flag of Europe and talking to the media while answering questions to the press and journalists.

In August 2020, Marin married former soccer player Markus Räikkönen in front of close friends and family at Kesäranta, the prime minister’s official residence.

The couple dated for 16 years and share a daughter, Emma Amalia Marin, now 5.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“Yesterday we said to each other ‘I Do,’" Marin posted on Instagram at the time, according to a translation, alongside an image of her and Räikkönen, now 37.

“I am happy and grateful that I get to share my life with the man I love,” Marin continued. “We have seen and experienced a lot together, shared joys and sorrows, and supported each other at the bottom and in the storm."

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.